Loss of downtown Macy’s marks the end of an era

Thursday’s announcement that Macy’s will shut down its iconic downtown location — known to many as the longtime home of Foley’s — marks the end of a era for Houston. Once all the upcoming sales are done and the doors are permanently locked, downtown will lose its last major retailer. After that, the building could face the wrecking ball.

For those of us raised in suburban Houston, the notion of going downtown for most of your shopping needs seems hard to imagine. But until the 1960s, that’s what many Houstonians did.

Yet even as residents moved to areas like Meyerland and Sharpstown, Houston retailers back then weren’t ready to quit. In fact, things were looking up, according to one 1965 Houston Chronicle article:

Does the growth of super suburbia shopping spell “disaster” for central downtown retail business areas?

In many parts of the country the answer is “yes.”

But Houston is an exception. Major retail executives in the downtown area say their business is increasingly good and boomed last year.

[…]

Milton Berman, president of Foley’s, said his downtown store’s business in 1964 “increased by some millions of dollars.” Other downtown merchants concurred that their volume was up considerably.

Merchants attributed the strong sales to easy access in and out of downtown and wide streets, not seen in too many large cities.

The article continued:

Other factors which merchants see helping their healthy sales downtown include:

* Ample parking facilities, often lacking in other cities.

* Adequate hotel accommodations.

* The comparatively new appearance of downtown stores.

* Continued construction of business and office buildings in the central area.

By the 1970s, things had changed. Crime and vagrancy had become a problem. Yes, more offices and workers were coming downtown, and projects like Houston Center came to fruition. But it wasn’t the same. Downtown had evolved.

From the Feb. 2, 1980, Chronicle:

Everitt-Buelow Co., a women’s specialty store chain, is leaving downtown to concentrate on Houston’s suburbs, but other merchants indicate they will stay in the center city.

“The suburbs are more advantageous by far than downtown for retailers,” said Grossman. “The free parking is a very important factor.”

Later in 1980, Beall’s, which purchased the downtown Battelstein’s store on Main, announced plans to close that location. Nearby, Mosk’s Store for Men and Kress both were closing up shop.

What led to that spate of closures? A Dec. 4, 1980, Chronicle article explained:

A downtown building manager said the overall image of the area was somewhat of a problem. And he added that the area “was in a crease, with many people waiting to see what is going to happen after the Texas Commerce Tower at Travis and Texas is completed.”

He said this part of Main Street could “virtually blossom overnight” if a series of things happen. These include:

* The sale and reopening of the Rice Hotel.

* The announcement of a couple of projects that have been rumored for Market Square, one of them an apartment complex.

With help from Story Sloane’s Gallery I’ve cobbled together a photogallery of the days when downtown was the hub of commerce in Houston.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Main at Capitol, 1940.

Main at Capitol, 1940.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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F.W. Woolworth store at Main and McKinney, 1949.

F.W. Woolworth store at Main and McKinney, 1949.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Palais Royal, downtown.

Palais Royal, downtown.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Main Henke & Pillot store at Congress and Milam, July 1960.

Main Henke & Pillot store at Congress and Milam, July 1960.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Downtown Sakowitz store. Dec. 30, 1950.

Downtown Sakowitz store. Dec. 30, 1950.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Joske's, 1953.

Joske's, 1953.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Kiam Building.

Kiam Building.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Main at Capitol, looking west.

Main at Capitol, looking west.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Main at Rusk, looking north.

Main at Rusk, looking north.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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500 Main.

500 Main.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Zindler's clothing store, Fannin and Congress.

Zindler's clothing store, Fannin and Congress.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Battelstein's store.

Battelstein's store.

Photo: Story Sloane Collection

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Redecoration of Battelstein's downtown store at 812 Main St. has been completed. Harry Battelstein, president, said the first floor has been designed into a Boulevard of Shops. He said individual shops for stockings, accessories, stationery, jewelry and handbags and gloves are set off from each side of the center aisle so that shoppers may browse. October 1960 less

Redecoration of Battelstein's downtown store at 812 Main St. has been completed. Harry Battelstein, president, said the first floor has been designed into a Boulevard of Shops. He said individual shops for ... more

Photo: Handout photo/Houston Post file

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New second floor at Battelstein's downtown store. It's completely contemporary with an air of casualness. May 1955

New second floor at Battelstein's downtown store. It's completely contemporary with an air of casualness. May 1955

Photo: Post file

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Group of Foley's employees in 1928 at the store's location at the 400 block of Main.

Group of Foley's employees in 1928 at the store's location at the 400 block of Main.